Washing-machine.



c G. PPEIFFER.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPUEATION FILED DEC. 27. |911.

Patented June 4, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEETI Ymia O. G. PFEIFFEHV WASHING MACHINE.

APPUCALDN msn nc.2l. lsu..

Patented June 4, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

` l, Il 0 I l -Il QILIIIIIOIIIH`OOII bill. 0 o 0 Ono: a 6.0. dw folzmlmloloio nu 0 o o .000000000000000000000000000 OOOOOOOOOOOOO OkOOOOOOOOOOOOO s1 .QOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooo .NWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCOOOOOOQOOO COOOOQGOOOQQOoooooooooooooo. @0000000000000oooooooooooooo ooooooooocoooooooooooomooo iM ooooommmmmmooomwonomoo. Wmo@ l; ,w1 M mm 4% m @J Ao. G. PFElrfEn.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED D'EGZI. |911.

Pafemed June 4, 19m

5 SHEETS-SIRET 3 0. G. FFEIFFER.

WASHING MACHINE.

Pwnc/Trou mio ncc.2l. 191|.

Patented Jun(` J1, 1918.

5 SHEiTS-SHEET 4 O. G. PFEIFFER.

WASHING MACHINE APPLxcATIuN min 0c.21.1sx1.

, 1,268,784.. Patented June 4, 1918.

.! A u V.

OTTO G. PFEIFFER, OF SALT LAKE CITY. UTH.

ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0

ST. LOUIS WASHING MACHINE COliPANY, A CORPDRATION 0F ILLINOIS.

WASHING-MACHINE.

Appiication tiled December 2'?, 1511.

To all ywhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Orro (l, Fromme, a citizen of the United States, and residing atSalt Lake Cit-y, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented cer tain new and ueful, Improvements in lVashingdtlechines, is a specification.

This invention frelatesto Washing maL chines, and more particularlyv tof washing machines of the power driven type.

One of the Objects of this invention is to construct a Washing machine which will he simple in its construction and operation, cheap to manufacture, and possess great strength and durability consistent with lightness in weight.

Another object is to construct a Washing machine in which the casing or container is a self-contained structure supported lietween end frames or standards, und in which the driving mechanism and drinn .bearings are supported `on and carried by these ond frames.

Another object is to support this drum in bearings which can be easily rendered watertight and be at the same time accessible; and to construct the parts so that the drum is removable and replaceable atV pleasure, and so that the opening and closing ot the casing or container will release and lock the drum in position, whereby' when the casing is closed the drum will be retained in position, and whereby when the casing is opened the drum will be released so ,as to permit its removal from the casing.

Further objects will appear from the detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is an end elevation of the coniplete Washing machine embodying this in vention,

Fig. 2 is a .front elevation,

Fig. 3 is e section on the line Fig. l,

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-1 Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail showing the connection of one of the casing ends with one of the end frames,

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a detail sideelevation showing the casing cover and the Ineens connected therewith for retaining thc drum in position in its bearings,

Specication of Letters Patent.

of which the following Patented June 4, 1918. Serial No. 668,184.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation,` Figa l0 is a section on the line IO-lb Fig.l 8, "ig: 1l is a section on the line 11-11 Fig. 12 is a detail showing the cover supporting ineens in position to release the drinn.

Fig. F ig. 8,

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the drum, Fig. 15 is a cross section of the drum, Fig. 16 is section on the line 16 Fig. 15, Fig. 17 is a section on the line 17-17 Fig. 15,

Fig. 18 is a detail section of the drum body. i

Tito mac/tine hotly or casing.`Referring to the accompanying drawings, 25 and 26 designate a pair of end frames of skeleton construction and having integral therewith legs 2T. T he end frame 25 has an integral cross member 28 forming supporting means for one of the drum bearings and the drivingr gearing, and the end frame 26 is also provided with a cross member 29 for supporting the other drum bearing. These end 13 is a section on the line 1313 frames are provided with annular Hunges' 30 and annular recesses 31. The end frames form the frame work of the supporting brackets for the casing body, and are preferably malleable castings so as to constitute aA light skeleton frame work. The casing proper is constructed of sheet metal and comprises a casing body 32 and casing ends 33 and 34. The casing body and ends are ser-tired together by outwardly folded scams 35, leaving the interior of the casing entirely smooth. After the casing has been seamed, the. whole is tinned or galvanized so as to thoroughly close .all seams. The casing so crnistructcd forms a self contained structure which is supported at its ends by the fiungcs It() of the end frames, with the scams 35 lying;r in thc recesses 3l. The assembled casing and end frames are clamped and secured together by rods 3G, 36, 3T and 38, those rods passing outside of the casing walls` and being secured in place by nuts as shown in the drawings. The ends yof the casing body are lient around the rods 3T and 38 as shown in Figs. 1. b and 7 so as to leave :in open space which is closed b v a cover hereafter descriheihnnd so as to louve the ends or edges of the opening smooth. The rod 38 passes through lugs 39 on the end frames, and the flanges 30 are recessed as shown at 40 to permit the bent end of the casing to lie therein. A drain pipe 41 is riveted to the bottom of the casing body as shown in Fig. 5, and this drain pipe extends through the end frame 26 and is provided at its end with a cap 42. The end frames have formed thereon lugs 43 and 44 adapted to support a beam 45. This beam is bolted to and connects the end frames and forms a support for the wringer which is generall indicated at 46.

'lhe machine frame or casing thus comprises a pair of cast skeleton end frames supporting a self contained sheet metal casing or container. The parts are connected and clam ed together and braced by means of the rods and the Wringer beam so as to form together a braced structure which is strong and ri id and at the same time of light Weight. T e seams are so formed that they will form a tight joint without the use of solder, and these seams are thoroughly protected and inclosed by the recesses 1n the end frames. The construction of the seams leaves the interior of the casing entirely smooth.

The drum or movable member.-Refer ring to Figs. 3 and 14 to 18 inclusive, 50 and 51 designate two end frames forming the ends of a drum. These end frames are of skeleton construction and preferably malleable castings. Each of the end frames is provided with an annular flange 52 and with a series of radially extending lugs 53 (in this case four) projecting inwardly. The ends 54 and the body 55 are constructed of sheet metal. The body is made of a single piece of sheet metal bent rentrantly as shown in the drawings to form inwardly extending projections or ribs 56. The end frames are connected and secured together by means of rods 57 riveted at their ends to the end frames and constructed to firmly clamp the parts together. The 4ends of the body 55 are turned over rods 58 connecting and secured to the end frames so as to form an opening in the drum, which opening is closed by a suitable cover 59. The reintrant projections 56 pass over and around the lugs 53 and the rods 57, so that the rods 57 will `lie inside of these projections and outside of the interior surface of the drum. The cover 59 is movably and removably secured to the drum by means of straps 60 engaging slots 61 in the casing body. The cover and the drum body are provided with straps 6'?. and 63 bent to form eyes for a latch bolt 6l having a handle 65. This latch belt is provided with a projection 66 adapted to engage the right hand strap 63 when the bolt is moved to unlocking position, so as to prevent the inadvertent complete disengagement of the bolt from the strap The drum body is provided with a seres of holes 67 so as to permit the water ir. the casing to enter the drum. The metal around the holes is struck up as shown in the drawings so that it will project outwardly beyond the ouside surface of the drum, thereby forming in eifect small tubes projecting from the drum. The end frames are pro` videgrwith lugs or trunnions 68 to support the um in its bearings :is hereinafter described. After the parts are clamped together the whole structure is tinned or gab vanized, whereby the parts will be firmly secured to ether without the necessity of soldered joints. l

It will be seen that the drum is composed entirely of metal, the end frames being malleable castings, and the body and ends proper of sheet metal. These parts are secured and clamped together by rods connecting and bracing and clamping the ele- .ments of the drum together into a rigid structure having great strength compared to its Weight. he inwardly extending projections 56 formed by bending the body, not only Strengthen the drum, but also form la corrugated inner surface for elevating the clothes in the drum. Since the ends of the drum body are bent around the rods 58, and since the projecting portions 56 are. bent around the rods 57, the interior of the drum will be left entirely smooth, leaving `no sharp edges or projectin points upon which the clothes can catch. t is found that the peculiar construction of the flanged apertures will promote the washing operation, since these projections will not only draw air, but also water and steam into the drum as the drum rotates.

The drum bearings and relam'ng moana- Rer'erring to Figs. 3, 4, and 8 to 13 inclusive, 70 and 71 designate a pair of brackets located inside of the casing and riveted to the cross bars 28 and 29 respectively of the end frames. Each of these brackets is provided with an inwardly projecting bearing 72 for supporting the trunnions 68 and 69 ofthe drum. These bearings are constructed as shown in the drawings so as to permit the drum to be removed from and replaced therein. In order to ermit such removal the trunnion 69 is provided with an angular portion 73 adapted to engage a similar recess or slot in the end of the drum shaft 74. With this construction therefore the drum can be removed from the casing when the angular' portion 7 3 is in a vertical position as shown in Fig. 12. Means are however provided for retaining or locking the drum in its bearings while the machine is in operation, and this means is connected with tne cover so that when the cover is closed the drum will be retained or locked in position, and when the cover is open the drum will be Figs. 4 and 8.. It will be understood released so as to permit its removal from the casing. This retaining means will now be described. y

A pair of brackets comprisin eacln an arcuate rim 75 and radial arms 6 arelarranged to be movably supported on the bearings 72. For this purpose each of the brackets is provided with a bearing embrading member 77 partially embracing the bearing so as to leave an ope'n space as shown in that the outside face of the bearing 72 is .inachined so as to furnish a bearing surface for the member 77. Each of the brackets is provided with a laterally extendingjlii'nge 78 and with laterally extending extensions 79 opposite the arms 76. The cover body 80 is constructed of sheet metal, and the ndsl of this cover are riveted to the llanfgegs 78 and the extensions 79. The endsof; the cover are provided with operating handles 81, and the casing ends have riveted tlriereto stops 82 and 83 for locating and limjting the cover in open and closed position.

lt will be noted that the bearings for the drum are located entirely inside of the sheet metal casing, but that these bearing;` are supported directly from the cross bars of the end frames.- This construction notlonly permits efi'icient packing of the bearings and therefore prevents leaxlnige; but furnishes also a strong and itigidsiipport ifol the drinn, since the drum is siipporixd froiin the end frames and not from the` sheet metal body.

The cover comprises a frame work supporting a sheet metal body and this frame work and body are secured together so as to form a braced structure having considerable rigidity compared with its weight. This is especially brought about by the fiange construction having the inward ly cxtending projections or braces 79 opposite the arms. The cover is supported upon well defined bearings, thereby permitting free movement of the cover and keepingy this cover in eli'ective alinement with the casing, thereby preventing sticking or binding.

vWhen the cover is in the position shown in iull lines in Fig. 4 and in Fig. 8, the openings in the bearings 72 will be bridged over by the bearing members 77 connected to the cover. This will lock the drulm in position in its hearings, as it will prevent the removal of thc trunnions. lVhen `however' the cover is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 and in Fig. 12,;then the open portion of the bearing member '77 will be opposite the openings in the hearings 72, so that the trunnions may at this time by removed 'from their bearings. lt will therefore be seen that when thc mover is in closed position the drum bearings will be bridged over so that the drum will be retained or locked in its bearings. while when `adapted the cover is in open position the drum bearings will be unbridged so thatl the drum may at this time be removed from its bearings and from the casing. This invention therefore provides means connected ywith the cover, whereby when the cover is Closed the drum will be retained in operative position, and whereby when the cover is open the drum will be released so as to permit its removal from the casing. This is a very convenient arrangement. The operator need not remember to lock the drum in position, .since this is necessarily accomplished by closing the cover, which latter operation is always performed prior to the starting of the machine. As soon as the cover is opened the drum is lin condition for removal.

The casing or container comprises sides and ends secured together to form an independent self-contained structure or unit in which the joints are formed independent of the end frames or standards. This selfcontained casing is in turn supported in and between the end frames; these end frames do not, however, form or close the joints in the elsing, but the 'joints are formed wholly in the casing itself. This construe- `tion will therefore withstand the rough usage and the twisting strains to which inaehines of this type are usually subjected. The drum and the wringer, as Well as the driving gearing therefor are carried on and supported directly by the end frames and entirely independent of the casing. This results in a construction having not only great strength, but since the stresses due to the weight and leverage of the gearing are transmitted directly to the end frames and not to the casing, the casing will hold its shape and the joints of this casing will not be opened.

lt is obvious that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from this invention, and it is therefore to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the speciiic construction shown and described.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

l. In a washing machine, a casing, a drum removably mounted therein, a movable cover .for said casing extending above, and arranged to swing about the axis of, said drum, and means movable witl and operable upon opening and closing of said cover for releasing and retaining said drum.

2. In a washin machine, a casing, adrum therein, a movab e cover for said easing arranged to swing about the axis of said drum, bearings )rejecting into said casing and flo removably sustain said drum therein, and means for locking said drum in its bearings, said means being connected with and movable with said cover.

3. In a washi machine, a caeing,adrum therein, a movab e cover for said casing arranged to swing about the axis of said drum, bearin s for removabl'y sustaining said drum in sai casing, locking means movable over ysaid bearings for locking said drum in said bearings, and means connecting said locking means withI said cover so as to move therewith.

4. In a washin machine, a casing, a drum therein, a movab e cover for said casing ar ranged to swing about the axis of said drum, bearings for removablyI sustaining said drum in said casing, locking means adapted to embrace said bearings and lock said drum in said bearings, and means connecting said locking means with said cover so as to move therewith.

5. In a washing machine, a casing, a cover for said casing, a drum in said casing, bearings for removably sustaining said drum in said casing, means supported by said casing for driving said drum, said driving means having 'a removable connection with said drum, and means operatively connected with said coter constructed to lock said drum in said bearings and in engagement with said driving means.

6. In a washing machine, a casing, a cover for said casing, a drum in said casing, bearings for removably sustaining said drum in said casing, a driving shaft having a conmesas-c nection with said drum constructed to per'- mit the removal of said drum from said casing, and means adapted to embrace said bearings and operatively connected with said cover constructed to lock said drum in said bearings and in engagementwith said driving means.

7. In a washing machine, a casing, a over for sait'. casing, a drum in said casing, hear ings foi supporting said drum at its ends in said canE ing, means for supporting said cover on said bearings to permit it to move to open an d closed positions, and means on said cover supporting means for retaining said drum in position.

8. In a washing machine, a supporting structure comprising a pair of end 'frames forming supporting brackets, a casing ermr rising sides and ends secured together te orm a self-contained structure and sul ported in said end frames, a drum in said casing, hearings mounted on said end frames and adapted to removably support said drum, al 1d a cover for said casing journaled on said Jearings and having means for retaining fiaid drum in its bearings.

In tesi imon whereof I affix my signature in prese; ice o two witnesses.

OTTO G. PFEIFFER.

Witne: :ses:

Henny M. HEMEL, M mm E. PAUCH. 

